Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Gibbons, Nielsen lead rock awards show
IT’S been a long time since
Sally Steele has rock ’n’ rolled, to borrow a phrase. Nearly eight years between her “Vegas Rocks! Magazine Music Awards” shows.
But Steele is reviving the massive rock party Boulder Highway. Celebrating the pub’s 20th anniversary, Steele is hosting the loudly infectious event at 8 p.m. Sunday at Sam’s Town Live. (Tickets start at $29, go to Ticketmaster.com or sallysteelerocks. com for intel.)
This is the seventh installment of the awards show, which went dark after the 2016 show at Eastside Cannery, also on Boulder Highway. The “Vegas Rocks!” presentation and concert is just a massive undertaking. Steele was about finished with the concept until she was re-energized this year for the landmark anniversary.
The rock-mag publisher says she will revive the event annually if this year’s is a success. She might enjoy greater clarity after herding Sunday’s roster.
Booked to appear and accept awards are such superstars as Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, and Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult are to receive Lifetime Achievement in Music awards.
Those being recognized for their contributions to rock include Five Finger Death Punch, Kip Winger, Orianthi, Rikki Rockett (Poison), Tim “Ripper” Owens (Judas Priest), Bruce Kulick (Kiss), Lizzy Borden and Simon Wright (AC/DC and Dio), Blas Elias (Slaughter), Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake
and Thin Lizzy), Danny Koker and Count’s 77, Frankie Moreno, Robert Sarzo, Crashing Wayward,
and Jason Walker & the Majestic 12.
An all-star jam shuts it down (which is why I packed the maracas). Many more stars and performers and special guests are to be announced. The whole thing makes the “Us Festival” look like a family picnic. Google that reference, it’s worth it. And in the spirit of Steele, get yer rock on.
Lynch back in the lineup
Marshawn Lynch is running lead on Laugh Factory at Tropicana’s Super Bowl weekend programming. His “Beastmode Comedy Night” is back for its third run midnight Feb. 10. This time,
Lynch is planning an onstage Q&A and a meet-and-greet. He’s not taken questions from the crowd in his first “Beastmode” show in December and again this month.
The second-level Laugh Factory venue is not long of this world, as the hotel plans to shut down in favor of the Athletics’ stadium buildout starting in 2025. The club’s future is uncertain, with details of Tropicana’s venues expected at the end of the month.
GM Harry Basil says he has two solid options on the Strip for moving forward. Laugh Factory opened in 2012, after Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club moved from the Trop to MGM Grand. Laugh Factory is famous, nationwide brand, with a club just opening in Covina, Calif. And comedy has worked up and down the ladder in Las Vegas for decades, and particularly since the Pandemic reopening.
BETMGM moves the chains
Tom Brady has advanced to the Super Bowl, even in retirement. So has the greatest hockey player ever, and the film icon who coined the phrase, “Vegas, baby, Vegas.”
Brady, Wayne Gretzky and actor Vince Vaughn are co-starring in a Super Bowl spot for BETMGM. The first of three teasers debuted Thursday morning on BETMGM’S social media channels and Youtube page. The campaign is to promote the company’s Super Bowl TV spot to air during the telecast Feb. 11.
The previews show Brady, Gretzky and Vaughn together in conversation. In the first, Vaughn is shown moving Brady out of the shot. “Tom, do you mind being an angel and just sliding over just — and, one more big step,” until Vaughn stands alone.
BETMGM is hosting multiple events and promotions leading to the 2024 Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium. Announced previously is the BETMGM Big Game Bash at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, headlined by Luke Combs.
The campaign was created in MGM Resorts International’s partnership with award-winning agency Highdive, which has three consecutive USA Today Admeter wins.
Brady, of course, has also won awards — seven Lombardi Trophies. Gretzky has four Stanley Cups. Vaughn is the champion of the famous phrase from the 1996 film “Swingers,” which was set in Vegas, baby.